Chapter 2

Auron looked at me and grunted in approval. The heavy downpour that had hindered us for nearly a week let up and the the sun shone brilliantly through the thick gray cloud coverage. We were exhausted and took the time to hasten our journey as much as possible. We caught up to Braska and Jecht and fought the fiends that were beginning to realize I was not a monster.

These vicious beings were more than the normal variety, mainly because that such a day as today is quite a rarity. They were similar to iguana and sahagains, but with black scales and hands. They gripped unusual little tridents in their monstrous hands and began to swarm us.

Auron struggled with his massive blade to fell a single creature while Jecht and I managed to kill the bastards easily enough. Braska healed and Auron took up a defensive stance near the summoner and tried his best to keep them away and from getting to hit the summoner.

"SHIVA"Braska suddenly yelled.

Glass and ice turned the moist air frigid and I fell down. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. Jecht grabbed me by the waist and moved me aside as the heavenly beauty danced her icy dance. She grew impatient, snapped her fingers and the fiends froze into icy bits and shattered as she departed. I grasped my throat desperately as I tried to inhale air and looked around for explanation.

Braska cast Vox on me and I coughed up a little blood, my throat stung. "Thank you!" I rasped.

"Freya...?"

All eyes were upon me and I shrugged. This was my first summoning I had ever seen and had taken it terribly. Braska motioned for me to follow and talk to him.

"Have you ever...wondered why She favored you so?"

"No. I figured it was because I reminded her of herself. Maybe that I was nearly as she was in life?"

"Not quite. I spoke to the fayth. She said nothing of you directly that hinted around about a child that would save them all. Maybe she meant you, and thus you were saved for this reason, or cursed. All I know is that ...maybe you should speak to the next fayth. I make you a guardian, so that as I journey you will learn and pheraphs solve your mysteries."

"It is greatly appreciated...I wonder if the Farplane would help me any? I..would like to see it."

"Of course, I would like to see my wife as well...I need to see her smile." Braskas usually happy face was upset, his eyes cloudy.

I fell back and left him to his thoughts, and I thought of my own as well.

What happened to my parents?

Why does Shiva favor me and yet in her presence I can not breathe?

How do I save Braska?

Why is Auron...why is Auron difficult for me to understand?

Jecht saw me thinking and strode over to me, we were nearing a cave of some sort and lush greenness was nearly everywhere in sight.

"Whats wrong with ya'?"

"I've a lot on my mind. Too many questions, no answers." He nodded and grunted and looked to the sky.

"I know how you feel. I..I've gotta lot o' questions too. You're too young for this ya know?"

"I have nothing else worth spending my life on."

He laughed. He took a drink from a small flask, and I understood. This man missed what he had had, Zanarkand. His wife and son. Everyone here had lost something in part to Sin, and everyone had a family they so missed. I felt out of place, I had not known such luxury of a family, of my blood cherishing me.

"Ah here we are! Guadosalam. Home of the guado!" Braska exhaled. He took off to the Inn to secure us rooms, and Auron and Jecht went to the weapons shop. I took the winding and steep slope to the farplane entrance, and I began to nearly run crying to the entrance I rushed into a strange land.

The floating platform I stood on seemed to be floating around at random, and below were fields of beautiful flowers and vines. Pryflies floated around and looked similar to cotton puffs at harvest. I fell to my knees and took in the beauty. I had wanted to come alone, didn't want to intrude one Braskas mourning period and I wanted to see for myself what answers were here for me.

I neared the edge slowly and spoke softly,"Mom, Dad?"

No images popped up, nothing came to me. I was upset to say the least, but sat and starred off into the abyss of flowers below. I sighed and wiped the tears from my eyes. It had been a foolish notion, to try to find a piece of myself.

I turned around to see Auron standing there starring at me. "I came looking for you. I got...worried."

"I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."

He chuckled. "I wanna apologize for the travel agency incident, I was...well.."

"Human. And there's nothing to apologize for, I..I wanted what you began to offer."

Auron turned red, and looked out into the flowers, and then up at the unnatural color of the white sun. "I"

Two people appeared, obviously his parents and they were smiling. "Why is it when I try...nothing?"

"You were young. The pryflies react to memories and that's what you see. Thats how come you see things, or in your case don't." I sighed and shook my head.

"I just want answers, that's not to much to ask is it?"

He shook his head and starred at his dead smiling place. "I don't like this place. Its...freaky. Unreal, I want my memories in my head, not...smiling at me."

"Good! I want to buy a new sword, you can help me pick one out."

We made our way back to the armor shop, and he helped me pick out a new longsword, Auron recommended trying to wield two, and we both decided since the event in the thunder plains this would be very prudent and offensive. I was quick and agile nearly as much as Jecht, but possessed withen me the ability to burden heavy weights. I bought two long swords, twin blades, and they are called simply by one name, Gemini.

I showered in my room and changed into comfortable sleeping clothes and laid down in the nice soft bed and slept, a dark and troubling sleep, one of nightmares...